History’s strangest taxes
The strangest things people have paid tax on

Governments have tried to fill their coffers with unusual taxes throughout history, from England’s 17th-century window tax to Russia’s beard tax. There are even levies on queen bees and, believe it or not, cow flatulence. Take a trip through some of the most 'creative' taxes of all time.
Cooking oil (3,000-300 BC)

Urine (1st century AD)

All the single people (9 AD)

Skipping battle (12th-14th centuries)

Salt (1350)

Beards (1535-1772)

Playing cards (17th century)

Fireplaces (1662)

Lawyers (1667)

Windows (1696)

Candles (1709)

Soap (1711)

Wallpaper (1712)

Gin (1736)

Bricks (1784)

Hats (1784)

Wig powder (1795)

Clocks (1797)

Church-going (1803)

Radio/TV (from 1923)

Sugary drinks (1930s)

Photocopying (1985)

Shadows (1993)

Queen bees (1999)

Cow flatulence (2003)

Widely reported, the ‘cow fart tax’ was mostly hot air. The tax on farmers, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions caused by cows’ excessive methane production, was first moo-ted in New Zealand in 2003, then in Denmark. Ultimately, both plans were scrapped.
Read about the millionaires and billionaires who want to pay more tax
Chopsticks (2006)

Non-smokers (2009)

Smokers the world over have long paid huge taxes to maintain their habit – except in the central Chinese province of Hubei, where non-smokers ended up being penalised instead. With the majority of local taxes coming from cigarette sales, the province set smoking quotas for officials and even teachers, and fined anyone caught smoking cigarettes made elsewhere in the country.
Sliced bagels (2010)

And even elephants? (2017)

Taxes on dogs are common worldwide, from Germany to many US states, but in 2017 it was announced that the Punjab government in India would be taxing owners of pets, farm animals and even elephants and camels, at a rate of 250 rupees ($3.60/£2.75) for small animals and 500 rupees ($7.15/£5.50) for large. Luckily for pet owners, the local government was swift to deny the reports.
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